Emanuele Scimia

China had 55,000 confirmed cases in February, but the real number was actually around 232,000. Chinese authorities used very narrow criteria to define cases, changing versions seven times. The fifth one, later withdrawn, led to a surge in cases. Meanwhile, the virus is re-emerging in a number of provinces.

In recent days, press reported him to be dying. The strong man from Pyongyang responded to a letter from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. For the US military, Kim is still in charge. The North Korean regime continues to deny coronavirus cases in the country.

This comes on top of a previous stimulus package worth US$ 80.2 billion. The money will help businesses keep employees on their payroll. Temporary workers and the self-employed will also get financial help. Families will get shopping coupons and gift certificates. The local labour market has been badly affected by the drop in foreign demand for South Korean goods.

Europeans want more transparency from Beijing, but remain cautious about the claim that the virus spread from a Chinese lab. For the Bild newspaper, the Chinese are trying to save face. Missouri and an Italian hotelier are suing China.

The collapse is due to the drop in domestic and foreign demand. The automotive and oil sectors are the most affected. Unemployment is rising and households' disposable income is falling. The government launches an aid package for 300 million migrant workers.

Unlike mainland China, the three countries and territory did not lock down their economies and populations. The Chinese model, also adopted by Italy, could have serious economic repercussions. The speed of intervention, a good healthcare system, and a cooperative population favoured success in the three democracies.

CNN reports the North Korean leader has serious health problems. A website linked to the South Korean government claims that the strong man from Pyongyang has undergone surgery for cardiovascular problems. Analysts: sister Kim Yo-jong favored for possible succession.

Defenceless civilians, including women and children, are victims of the ongoing fighting between the Myanmar military and Buddhist rebels from the state of Rakhine. Hospitals have had to treat the wounded rather than contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

For a third straight day infections remain under 20 new cases: yesterday there were 8. Some public places can reopen as long as they comply with health guidelines. The popular baseball championship also starts again. The country is a winning model of fighting the virus.

Vietnam has only 268 COVID-19 cases and no deaths. The secret of its success lies in the speed of intervention. Like China’s, Vietnam’s communist regime has used its vast surveillance system. The country's economy is among the few that will grow in 2020. Multinationals are leaving China.

About 24 Chinese doctors will go to Ethiopia and Burkina Faso. So far, the continent has had fewer deaths than more developed regions of the world; however, the healthcare systems in many African countries are woefully inadequate and could facilitate an outbreak. The continent has less than one hospital bed per thousand people. The European Union and the United States are providing aid. The economy is a source of concern.

In the past 20 years it had grown by 9% average. Exports are also falling, driving the Chinese economy. At least 205 million jobs lost due to the pandemic, but the estimates do not take into account 122 million migrant workers.